St Xavier’s College has identified several villages around its Raghabpur campus in South 24-Parganas for distributing food, essential commodities and medical help.

Relief work is being carried out in eight villages, Father Dominic Savio, the principal of St Xavier’s College, said.

Most students on the Raghabpur campus are from nearby villages. Help is being offered not just to the families of students but other villagers as well, the principal said.

The students are mostly from underprivileged families. Sons of daily wage agriculture labourers, they are first-generation learners.

“We don’t want the students to suffer. We are trying to provide as much help as possible to the affected families. But the relief is being offered to other villagers as well,” Father Savio said. “Some of the villagers were in tears when they were handed over the food bag at a school in Paikhala.”

Magurkhali, Debipur, Raghabpur, Shalpukur and Bakeswar are some of the villages where help has reached. Distribution of the food and other items will continue till next Friday.

The relief work is being undertaken in association with police and the panchayat.

The logistics are being taken care of by members of the college’s alumni association, Father Savio said.

Students of the college have been asked to volunteer for the relief work.